Arab FMs to meet January 6 to consider more aid for Palestinians

Arab foreign ministers tasked with following up on support for the Palestinian uprising are to meet here January 6-7 to consider a Palestinian request for extra economic aid, officials said Wednesday,

Arab foreign ministers tasked with following up on support for the Palestinian uprising are to meet here January 6-7 to consider a Palestinian request for extra economic aid, officials said Wednesday, November 21.

The ministers, who have been meeting regularly since the uprising erupted 14 months ago, are to study a Palestinian Authority request for $55 million in aid per month for the first three months of 2002, an Arab League official said.

The Palestinian Authority is asking for the supplement to be sent starting 2002 until the next Arab summit, which is expected this coming March in Beirut, the official said on condition he not be named.

The Cairo-based Arab League had previously agreed to provide $40 million in monthly aid until September 2001. The follow-up committee then decided to provide an additional $165 million in aid from September to December 2001. A first installment of $45 million was sent in September.

The committee includes foreign ministers from Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, Yemen, Bahrain and the Palestinian Authority as well as Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa. The follow-up committee last met in Damascus November 3-4 in Damascus. — (AFP, Cairo)